Break in the Brutal Cold?

It is more of the same for the weather around here, but there are subtle changes underway that hopefully will take hold and create large implications for the local area in the future. Yesterday and overnight a snow storm affected the Southern states from Texas to Virginia. The heaviest snow missed the major cities but a large area was impacted by the snowfall. Further north a weak area of low pressure is moving through the Ohio Valley with an area of light snow. Once this system moves over the East Coast the attention turns to the evolving upper air pattern. The pattern appears to be very active and indications point to a strengthening Atlantic ridge moving west to near Florida.   This could have a major affect on our local weather.

Yesterday and last night a major winter storm affected the states from Texas to Virginia. The heaviest snows feel for areas north of I-20 with some locations receiving nearly one foot of snow. The center of the major metropolitan areas of Dallas and Atlanta escaped heavy snows but snowfall did occur on their fringes.

Currently a weak area of low pressure and light snow is moving through the Ohio Valley. Snow amounts are generally an inch or two but lake-affect snows have pile up to more than six (6) inches near and around Chicago.

On Friday large arctic high pressure will be in control of the weather for the entire Eastern half of the nation. This will provide clear but cold conditions for many areas. Friday morning lows will be below zero (-5 to -10) with high temperatures only recovering to near the ten (10) degree mark. Saturday morning low temperatures will fall a few degrees below zero (0) again. High temperatures during the day Saturday should reach near twenty (20) degrees.

On Sunday a low pressure system will approach the area from the west. Return flow out of the Gulf of Mexico will allow temperatures to rise to near freezing but also supply ample amounts of moisture. Snowfall will develop during the day and last during the night. Snow fall amounts may be in the three to six (3 to 6) range depending on the eventual track of the low pressure system. Temperatures on Monday look to remain in the low thirties (30’s) as there is a lack of Arctic air behind this system.

On Tuesday a return to more seasonable temperatures may be in our cards. A developing low pressure system near Texas should send much more seasonable air into the region. High temperatures may rise into the lower forties (40’s) with any precipitation that does fall being in the form of rain. The system should track to our north and west keeping our local area on the warm side of a system for a change. This system may be warm and dynamic enough to cause severe weather to break out over the Southeastern States. This evolving and complicated weather pattern warrants watching as changes will have a major impact on the area.